Oklahoma Man Who Shot Teen Sentenced To 15 Years

Thacker of Muldrow was convicted Jan. 24 of assault and battery with a deadly weapon in a July 21 shooting that wounded a 13-year-old boy. The jury recommended the 15-year sentence.

Thacker must serve 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole, said Matt Orendorff, his court-appointed defense attorney. Orendorff said he is considering an appeal.

Sprouse told Thacker that if there are clear records that he had not been a problem for the sheriff during his time in the county jail, the court is willing to give him credit for time served.

Thacker has been held in the Sequoyah County Detention Center since his July 22, 2011, arrest.

Assistant District Attorney Stacey Slaughter told the judge the victim was unable to attend the sentencing hearing.

No family members or friends for either defendant or victim were present Friday.

Orendorff asked the judge to follow a pre-sentence investigation recommendation for a split sentence — a portion served in prison and a portion as supervised probation. And he argued that at trial Thacker “was entirely truthful, showed remorse and admitted to having drug problems.”

Arguing for a more lenient sentence, Orendorff said he believes Thacker can become a productive member of society.

Slaughter disagreed with imposing a split sentence, arguing that the crime was violent and a boy was shot.

Addressing Thacker, Sprouse stated that Thacker admitted being under the influence of drugs at the time, and reminded him he’d been convicted of drug charges a year earlier and had been given a one-year suspended sentence then to allow him time to address those issues. “But you didn’t,” the judge said.

Sprouse also noted that Thacker had fired a gun at the house and testified he’d fired at the roof. However, Sprouse said, “when the lights came on in the kitchen, there were very quickly shots fired into that room.” Logic, he said, indicates the lights came on because someone entered the room.

“And it doesn’t matter who was in the room,” Sprouse said.

Sprouse also noted that an officer testified there were other bullet holes in the house.

At trial, the prosecution contended Thacker was firing at his ex-girlfriend, Navada Milligan, but hit her son instead.

Milligan testified that the incident profoundly affected her life and the lives of her children. The family could not bear to live in the house afterwards and moved away, she said.